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The Dam Busters (1955) 7.3
True story of how the British attacked German dams in WW2 by using an ingenious technique to drop bombs where they would be most effective. Director:Michael AndersonWriters:Paul Brickhill (book), Guy Gibson (based on Wing Comdr. Gibson's own account in "Enemy Coast Ahead"), 1 more credit » |
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Title: The Dam Busters (1955)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Michael Redgrave | ... |
Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.
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Ursula Jeans | ... |
Mrs. Wallis
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Charles Carson | ... |
Doctor
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Stanley Van Beers | ... |
Sir David Pye, C.B., F.R.S.
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Colin Tapley | ... |
Doctor W. H. Glanville, C.B., C.B.E.
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Frederick Leister | ... |
Committee Member
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Eric Messiter | ... |
Committee Member
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Laidman Browne | ... |
Committee Member
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Raymond Huntley | ... |
Official, National Physical Laboratory
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Hugh Manning | ... |
Official, Ministry of Aircraft Production
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Patrick Barr | ... |
Captain Joseph (Mutt) Summers, C.B.E.
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Edwin Styles | ... |
Observer at Trials
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Hugh Moxey | ... |
Observer at Trials
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Anthony Shaw | ... |
R.A.F. Officer at Trials
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Basil Sydney | ... |
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris (now Marshal of the Royal Air Force) G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
The British are desperate to shorten the length of WW2 and propose a daring raid to smash Germany's industrial heart. At first the objective looks impossible until a British scientist invents an ingenious weapon capable of destroying the planned target. Written by Dave Jenkins <david.jenkins@smallworld.co.uk>
Taglines:
The story of the "bombs that had to bounce" - and the air-devils who had to drop 'em! See more »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
16 July 1955 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Les briseurs de barrages See more »Filming Locations:
Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK See more »Company Credits
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company contact information
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
[indicates Young]
Gibson: You can work that out, Dinghy. Don't forget that some of the armour's been taken out. And don't exceed 63,000 pounds or otherwise we shan't get off.
[looks around]
Gibson: Any ...
[...]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Wing Cmdr. Gibson mentioned the "Tirpitz" as a possible target. This German battleship was later sunk, by 617 Squadron, using 6-ton "earth quake" bombs called Tallboys which were also designed by Dr. Barnes Wallis. See more »Goofs
After the first failure of the full size test bomb, Guy Gibson, Bob Hay and Barnes Wallis are saying goodbye to each other. Bob Hay's mouth moves but what he says to Barnes Wallis is not heard. (at around 25 mins) See more »Quotes
Gibson: Well, the sixpenny bombsight works and the spotlamps work. We've flown two thousand hours, and dropped a good many more than two thousand practice bombs. The specially converted aircraft start arriving tomorrow. So, from now until the word "go" I want you to practice flying them at your all-up proper weights.[indicates Young]
Gibson: You can work that out, Dinghy. Don't forget that some of the armour's been taken out. And don't exceed 63,000 pounds or otherwise we shan't get off.
[looks around]
Gibson: Any ...
[...]
See more »
Just like to respond to Howard Morley's comments. The dam's raids were urgently needed, and it took only a few months to form 617, train them and attack the dams. Quite a feat I'm sure you'll agree. The film nicely conveys the struggles and the friendships of the crews, put together from the best of the Commonwealth fliers. Even if the screenplay does take some rather large liberties with the story.
As to Guy, he was killed in 1944 on his way back from acting as Master Bomber on a raid over Germany. His Mosquito crashed in Holland, killing him and his navigator. To this day there are no explanations for the crash. Guy should not have been flying at all, but he was so desperate to get back in the air that Bomber Harris gave in and let him. A tragedy. Of the crew of G-George (Guy's ship on the raid) none of them survived the war. The crew crashed whilst trying to bomb the Dortmund-Ems canal later in 1943.
The film is a fitting tribute to the raid, and the massive losses of 617. Of the 19 ships to go out, 11 came back. Of the 77 crew lost on the raid, only 1 survived. This is why the dams were not bombed again. And the problem with the Sorpe was that it was an earth damn, the bombs were not very effective as with the Eder and Moehne.
How do I know all this? My Great-grandmother was a Gibson.
Watch the film and marvel.